The Kettle Moraine school board has decided to close Magee Elementary School in Genesee Depot. At an evening meeting on Wednesday, June 11, the board unanimously voted to close the elementary school starting in fall of 2026. Due to the timing of this announcement, the school will operate through the upcoming fall 2025/ spring 2026 school year.
The decision to close the school was a result over fears about the Kettle Moraine school district’s financial capabilities. Changes in population and budgetary restrictions have been factors in the choice to close the school. According to a news release from the board, it is believed that there may be “projected financial deficits as soon as the 2026-27 school year”.
In another email addressing the closure, the board stated that “We are dedicated to making the transition at the close of that year as smooth and thoughtful as possible. In the coming months, we will provide detailed information about staffing plans, placement options, and school boundaries.”
The Kettle Moraine school districts that it “thoughtfully considered” the entire process through listening sessions and community outreach. They stated that they also “Appreciate the engaged and involved families and community members. Your input… makes us believe no stone was left unturned in our process.”
Magee Elementary School has served the community as a beloved school that utilized outdoor spaces and innovative instructional methods to foster creativity. The property has about 20 totals acres of outdoor instructional space. Currently, Magee has a student body of roughly 260 students, all of which will have be relocated as their education continues. Additionally, the 20 educators employed at Magee have uncertainty about their future job positions.
The Kettle Moraine school district has experienced significant decline in the past twenty years. The district’s resident student population has declined by 25% in recent years. In a fiscal planning report released in May of 2025, the school district stated that “We project growing deficits that will reach $7-8 million by 2031-32.” As the uncertainty surrounding the financial health of the area has been called into questions, the possibility of reducing operations became increasingly relevant. In a series of listening sessions through May, the district spoke to community members to help determine the path forward. Reducing staff and consolidating facilities had long been expected.
